Regional Facebook

GMB Scotland’s Shona Thomson was on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour this morning, after yesterday’s news that we’ve reached an agreement with Glasgow City Council for the settlement of equal pay claims. Justice that has been denied and delayed will now be delivered. Glasgow’s working women have had to fight long and hard to secure justice, and it sounds like they’re now planning a well deserved celebration.

GMB Scotland Organiser Karen Leonard has a message for our members in the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS, who are being balloted now on proposed cuts to their terms and conditions. You did not sign-up for a pay deal that gives little with one hand and cuts with the other. When you receive your ballot, vote REJECT and let your employer and the Scottish Government know that these cuts will not go unchallenged. For more on the proposed reforms, see: https://tinyurl.com/y6wun7gp If you work in the SAS or the NHS and you’re not yet a GMB member, it's not too late to join and have your say. You can join GMB online here: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

‪“We will be closely monitoring the situation but with additional staff, suitable protective clothing and measures to ensure infection control, I believe this matter has been dealt with.”‬ ‪A positive outcome for our members at Raigmore Hospital following pressure from GMB Scotland Organiser Liz Gordon.

GMB Scotland has today launched a ballot of our members in the Scottish Ambulance Service and the NHS, urging them to REJECT the pay reforms proposed by the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC). Our members did not sign-up for a pay deal that gives little with one hand and cuts with the other. These reforms represent the thin end of the wedge, the first wave of cuts to our members terms and conditions, that we will not sit back and allow to go unchallenged. You can read the STAC proposals, and why we're urging our members to reject them, here: https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/campaigns/overview-future-of-the-scottish-ambulance-service.html

After 4 Porters suffered puncture wounds while carrying out work involving clinical waste, GMB Scotland has advised its members not to undertake these tasks, which amount to a substantive change to their job descriptions. GMB Scotland's Gavin Smith spoke to Reporting Scotland last night. We will not tolerate any situation where our members are exposed to unsafe conditions at work.

GMB Scotland in Local Government – Important COSLA Pay Update This weekend school teachers may move to a strike ballot if they reject a pay offer which is greater than any proposal made or deal agreed elsewhere in Scotland’s public sector. On Monday, NHS staff, now locked into a three year deal, will be balloted over reforms to their terms and conditions of employment that would result in cuts to real terms pay. And on Tuesday the UK parliament will vote on the Brexit deal which will have profound consequences for the future of public finances – just days after Derek Mackay warned of further cuts to Scottish frontline services. So why would we rush in on a three year offer when other public sector workers could receive a significantly higher award than council workers and when the future economic outlook is so uncertain? We want to exhaust every possible avenue of negotiation because in the event of a rejection the next step is a full strike action ballot of our members in local government. Full update here: http://bit.ly/COSLAPayLatest

Four porters at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital have been injured carrying out work involving clinical waste. Liz Gordon, GMB Scotland Organiser for the Highlands & Islands, was interviewed on Good Morning Scotland today, urging our members not to put themselves at risk by taking on this additional work which amounts to a change to Porter's job descriptions. Please share this widely. More information: http://bit.ly/Raigmore

Yesterday, GMB Scotland received a revised offer from COSLA concerning local government pay. Progress has been made, as it stands this offer would surpass the value of the NHS deal, but there are still concerns about how this latest proposal is weighted across the local government pay grades. After a decade of cuts and against the backdrop of Brexit uncertainty, it is vital we get this deal right to ensure work genuinely pays for staff on the front line of local government.

‪Ahead of today’s Scottish Government budget, GMB Scotland’s Kirsty Nimmo sent a clear message to Derek Mackay, the Scottish government and COSLA - your offer to local government workers is unfair and unequal, and you must do more for those providing frontline services. ‬ Agree with us? Share with your colleagues and join the fight for a fair settlement for local government workers.

GMB Scotland: The Union For Working Women In the past year, GMB Scotland women members have had huge successes - from the Glasgow Women's Strike, wins in private care and the NHS, to taking the fight against period poverty to ASDA. Now we're building on this to get employers to wake up to the value of women's work in Scotland. Sign up now for updates and to get involved in the campaign: http://bit.ly/GMBWomenSignUp Photo courtesy of Craig MacLean.

“The equal pay strike in Glasgow has proved that council workers will no longer go unseen. Fair pay is a huge and growing issue and COSLA and the Scottish Government need to check their budget blindspots or they are on course for collision with coordinated strike action in the new year.” After a decade of cuts, it's time these workers had a proper pay rise. ⏰ Agree with us? 🤔 Like and share! 👍🔄

Today, we meet with other NHS Scotland union representatives at the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC). GMB will be making our concerns known that the cuts agenda we previously feared is already being trailed in services in Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board. Last week, GMB submitted a collective grievance against GG&C following an attempt to change the pay protection arrangement in place for theatre staff at Stobhill Hospital. Left unchallenged, this review would effectively mean staff being compelled to work additional hours, without pay and at the discretion of the employer. Any way you slice it, that’s a real-terms cut to terms and conditions. More here! 👉 http://bit.ly/NHSPayReformTalks

An overwhelming majority (85%) of GMB Scotland's 30,000 strong local government membership has voted in favour of industrial action to secure a better pay offer. In light of this, we've issued a warning to COSLA; vital services cannot run without staff, make work pay for them! GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “It’s all well and good for COSLA to call for more money from the Scottish Government to defend services, but they won’t have services to run unless they do more for struggling staff at the coal face of delivery. “After a decade of cuts we can all get behind a fairer funding model for our vital local services but it also requires COSLA to bring forward a credible offer that actually helps make work pay for staff who need it the most.” MORE: http://bit.ly/COSLAResult

GMB Scotland believe that state support for our commercial shipbuilding sector is a positive thing. The message from our members to Jamie Greene MSP is very clear: stop playing politics with our future. Get behind the workforce and the yard so we can get on with the business of building world class ships in Inverclyde. Agree with us? Like and share! 👍🏻 🔄

THE LAST DAY TO HAVE YOUR SAY Tomorrow, the GMB ballot on industrial action in local government to secure a better pay offer will close. Today is your LAST CHANCE to return your vote and have your say. 92% of GMB members rejected the initial offer on the basis that it was unfair and unequal. After a decade of austerity, it is not credible to offer the biggest cash rises to the Chief Executives and the "top brass", who are already on huge salaries. Despite making more money available for this year's pay deal, NOT A PENNY of this new money has been directed to those on the lowest pay grades. We need to bring COSLA back to the table with an offer that values those workers that need it most, those on the front line who work every day to keep our local services running. That's why we're asking you to vote YES for industrial action. Agree with us? Speak to your colleagues and encourage them to get their YES vote in the post TODAY!

"Don't tell me my work is vital, if you don't value the women who do the work". Last week's Glasgow Women's Strike showed the very best of our union; strength, solidarity and dignity. Our GMB family are proudly leading the fight back for working people aross Scotland. Join us. https://www.gmb.org.uk/join/join-online

UPDATED - GMB Scotland Statement GMB Responds To Developments In Anti-Semitism Attack Against Union Organiser “The SNP’s suspension of Mr Wardell was the only logical course of action to take. GMB will also be contacting Police Scotland to establish what further action can be taken. “However, the apology from Councillor Anderson is insufficient in light of the earlier defence of his comments. We believe this is contrived and insincere. He should be sacked from his elected position and his political membership should be suspended. “As we said earlier, no political party has clean hands on the issue of anti-semitism but nobody should need any reminders that anti-semitism is on the rise and we in GMB are clear that it is absolutely intolerable. “The Councillor’s position is untenable and if he cannot do the right thing himself then the SNP must take that decision for him.”